Message from the Chair

Good Things Don’t Happen by Accident

 

We all know Sioux Falls has a lot of great things going on. In fact, WalletHub just named Sioux Falls the 4th Happiest City in America (2025). The financial website evaluated 29 metrics, from income growth to depression rates to the number of green spaces per capita. Lucky for us, “ideal weather” only played a small part in the evaluation. Happy communities don’t just happen because the sun is shining (although that helps!). They happen because people like you invest time and effort into creating a community where people feel safe, connected and prosperous.

A happy community has visionary leaders and an outstanding business community that never settles for being #4 and instead pushes to be the best. It has ample public and private investment in quality-of-life amenities like restaurants, entertainment venues and local gathering places. A happy community shops locally to preserve its vibrant economy. It has support systems and embraces growth and cultural diversity.

A happy community needs safety and security. In May, you have multiple opportunities to acknowledge and appreciate the men and women who keep us safe. We honor our law enforcement on Peace Officers Memorial Day and throughout National Police Week (May 11- 17). We also recognize the selfless acts of our military on Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day. We hope you can join the Military & Veterans Affairs Committee of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce at the Armed Forces Day Ceremony, Saturday, May 17, at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance.

A happy community has engaged citizens and strong governance. On May 7, Leadership Sioux Falls will graduate its 39th class of leaders representing businesses and non-profits across our great city. Programs like this ensure we are equipping our citizens with the tools needed to keep Sioux Falls on its positive trajectory. In this issue, you can also read a legislative recap to see how newly passed state laws and policies may impact us.

Finally, a happy community needs to appreciate what it has. That’s why I thank all those who have gone before us and those of you working hard now to ensure Sioux Falls is moving forward and not standing still. While we have come a long way, we know we have more work to accomplish. We need airport expansion and continued diversity in our job market for continued opportunities for our kids and grandkids. Let’s keep pushin’ on until Sioux Falls tops every list!